Automatic calling device



Dec. 7 1926.

Loswazl J. G. BLESSNG AUTOMATIC CALLING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 13. v1922 FI :l

. -Inuen :1r-

Patented Dec. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES. 'PATENT' oFF-ice,

Jorritr G. Biinssiire,

OF CHICAG, ILLNOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO;

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC INC., OF CHCAGO, LLLNOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

AUT-@Mairie cantine envien.

Application filed January 13, 1922, Serial No. 529,043. Renewed May 10, 19,26.

My invention relates in general to'impulse transmitting devices. More particularly my invention relates to that type of impulse transmitting device usually installed at the substation of an automatic telephone subscribei"s line; these devices are commonly known as calling devices and are used by the calling subscribers to control the operation of central exchange automatic switches, to extend connections to desired called lines. In this type of device a governor is usually provided to cause the'uniform transmission of impulses, which. are'produced by vario-us mechanisms thru the meL dium of a power spring, which has, previ-r ously been wound up by the subscribers opei'ation of a finger hole dia-l.

It has been found advisable to provide some s ort of arrangement to prevent the subscriber from retaining her finger in the finger hole dial, for the simple reason that she will either force the dial, causing the speeding un of the impulse series, or retard the the impulse series to be slow dial, causing and in all probability irregular. Either of the above abnormal operations are very like-V ly to cause an improper operation of the exchangeswitching apparatus and thereby result in the selection of a wrong number. To overcome the above undesirable feature, various means have been provided, one schemek being to make it necessary for the subscriber to remove lier finger from the dial, before the device wil-l operate to transmit impulses. The construction of a device of this character in the past has usually resulted in a device either of undue size, or a tangled mass of delicately adjusted parts, assembled in such a manner that their adjustment is almost impossible, thus making the device impractical for commercial use.

' Among the objects of my invention are, therefore, to provide a calling device in which are incorporated the above mentionedY desirable features, by providing a simple arrangement f'or accomplishing the above mentioiied desirable result; and to at the same time utilize a highly developed organization of mechanisms, which make it possible *tov construct and maintain the device in a incre simplified and efficient manner, thus making the device of acommercial value.

Another object is toy provide an improved Figure 1 is a front view of the device showing the general appearance.

Figure 2 is an edgewise view of the device looking from the right of Figure 1 with the number plate removed.

Figure 8 is a rear viewfshowing the vari'- ous operating parts.

Figure t is an edgewise view looking from the right of Figure 3 with theY number plate removed.

Figure 5 is a view of the main driving gear, shaft, spring cup and spring tensioning' and supporting parts. Y

Figure 6 is a. front view, with the. number plate and a greater portion of the fingerhole dia-l and movable finger-,stop broken away, to more clearly show the clutch and driving gears. j

Figure 7 is an axial section of a central portion of the device, drawn to show more clearly the relation of the linger-stop with the governor stop.

A general description having been given of each figure of the drawing, a more detailed description will now be given.

As shown, the device comprises the usual mounting plate 1, which serves as the base and main support of all the various elements required to, make the device complete. Referring to Fig. 3, the projecting pieces 29, 29 and 291 are securely fixed to the mounting plate l or may be a part of the mounting plate and are the means usually used to attach the device to the telephone base. Projecting vmember 4'? (Figs. 3 and t) fixed to the mounting plate l serves as a support for one end of the shaft 8, through the medium of the recessed adjusting screw 49.

that the shaft 8, crown teeth 12, spur gear teeth 11 and spring cup 22 are built as aunit. rlhe spring cup 22 is shown in cross-section to clearly show the power spring 23, which is also shown in cross-section. The spring 23 has its .outer end fixed to the cup 22 as shown in Fig. 3 and its inner end is adapted to be engage-d by the lug 21, of the drum and disc unit 5. When assembled the unit 5 is rotatably mounted on the drum 27, but is normally prevented from rotating by the screw 20. The screw 2O (Fig. 2) is provided to permit the disc 5 vto be rotated in either direction, to variably adjust the tension of the main drive spring 23. Referring to Figures d and 7, it should be noticed that the finger-hole dial 2, spacing member L16 and gear 16 are built as unit and are rotatably mounted on a. stud 41, on the mounting plate 1 (Fig. 7 rFliese parts together with the linger stop 3 are all held in their proper position by the pin 26 and nut rFhe gear 16 is permanently in mesh with the crown teeth of gear 12.

rlhe projections 51 ad 52 (Fig. act as a support for the worin-driven governor assembly which is similar to one which has been in general use, with the exception that lnurled wheel 19 has been added. The use of this wheel 19 will be pointed out in another part of the specification. rlChe projecting portions 48 and 53 act as a support for the shaft 31 in an obvious manner. Permanently fixed to the shaft 31 (Figs. 3 and 6) is the knurled wheel 7. rlhe pin 32 fixed to the gear 11 is adapted to engage the wheel 7 when the device is in normal position, un-

.j der a fixed tension of thespring 23.l

The pinion 10 and the clutch surface 25 are built as a unit on a drum or sleeve 30, which is rotatably mounted on the shaft 31. The pinion 10 is permanently in mesh with the gear 11, thus it will be seen that when the gear 16 rotates in either direction both gear 11 and pinion 10 will also be rotated. rlhe interrupter cam 13, spring 15 and the worm wheel 211 are fixed to the shaft (Fig. 6). As shown in Fig. 6, one end of the spring 15 extends through an apertur in the wheel 24. rEhe construction of the clutch is similar to that of the impulse cam 13, with the exception that it is made of metal and is somewhat smaller, however the important difference is that the one edge of each wing is cut on an angle, while the back surface is cut olf squarely as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, t-he front vof one wing and the back of the other wing may be seen clearly.

lt will be seen that when the pinion 10 is driven in one direction, the clutch surface will ride over the end of spring 15 forcing the spring flush with wheel 24, but when it revolves in the opposite direction it engages the spring 15 and carries with it the unit comprising worm wheel 24 and impulse cam 13. The worm wheel 24C is permanently in mesh with the worm 311 of the governor, so that when the cam 13 is rotated, the governor is also rotated.

The screw 42, (Fig. acting as a bearing for the governor shaft also holds the spring stop 18. rFhe spring 18 is tensioned so that it tends to engage the knurled wheel 19, but is normally prevented from doing so by the lever t- (Figs. 3 and 4) which overcomes the tension of spring 18 through the action of spring 17. The fingerstop 3 (Figs. 6 and 7) is lreyed to one end of the pin 26 and the lever is fixed to the other end. The movement of the lever 4 is limited by the pins 13 and est (Fig. 7). rlhe projecting portion 110 acts as a mounting plate for the interrupter, or impulse springs and 36 and for auxiliary or shunt springs 37, 38 and 39.

Referring again to shaft 8 (Figs. 3 and 5), the insulated pin 9 normally engages springs 37 and 38, causing them to normally be in the position indicated in Fig. 3.

A detailed desciption of the various parts having been given the method of operation will now be explained.

rThe operator inserts his finger in the hole of the finger hold dial, corresponding to the desired digit and rotates the dial in a clockwise direction as 31: r as it will go.A As the dial leaves its normal position the shaft 8 is turned thru the medium of gears 16 and 12, causing the pin 9 to permit'springs 36, 37 and 38 to move to their alternate position, at which position they remain until the series impulses have been transmitted. It will be seen that the pin 32 (Figs. 2 and will also be carried away from the wheel i' a distance dependent on the extent of forward movement of the dial, thus unlocking the shaft 31 to permit its heine' rotated upon return of the dial. Baring the latter portion of the clockwise Vmovement of the dial the finger engages the lingerstop and moves the same until lever ll stril-:es pin ad. rllhe movement of lever l permits spring 18 to engage the lrnurlcd wheel 19, thereby locking the device during the od normal position of the linger stop and thereby preventing the operator from forcing the dial baclr to normal. The operator removes his finger from the dial which permits the fingerstop to return to normal, under tension of spring 17, whereupon the lever #l again engages the spring 18, thereby removing that spring from the knurled wheel 19, to permit the proper operation of the impulse cam and governor under tensi n stored up by the power spring during the clockwise movement of the dial.

1t will be seen that in the forward (clockwise) movement that the gear 16 is moved, causing the movement of gears 12, 11 and llO pinion 10, in which case the clutch 25 rides over the spring l5, and therefore no operation of the impulse cam or worm wheel is produced, however, when the dial is released and is permitted to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction the clutch 25 engages the spring l5 and carries with it the worm wheel 24 and impulse cam 13, to transmit the impulse series at a speed determined by the governor. After the nal impulse has been sent the pin 9 again engagessprings 37 and 38, returning them totheir normal position. The pin 32 is returned and again engages the knurled wheel 7, thereby stopping all operating parts in their normal position. The dial is now in readiness for any subsequent operation,

It will be seen that I have devised a calling device having many novel features, and in which all parts are so arranged that all parts are readily accessible for adjustment or repair.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In an impulse sending` device, a rotatable shaft, a rotatable sleeve on said shaft, ratchet teeth on one end of said sleeve, a worm wheel on said shaft, a. spring on said shaft having one end extending through said wheel into the path of-said ratchet teeth, means for rotating said sleeve in two directions, said ratchet teeth and spring permitting the movement of said sleeve in one direction independent of any movement of said shaft and engaging when the sleeve is moved in the other direction to move said shaft.

2. In an impulse sending device, a finger stop having a finger fixed thereto and movable into and out of normal position, a rotatable governor, a knurled wheel on said governor, a spring lying against said finger and tending to engage said wheel, ano-ther spring associated with said finger for preventing the engagement of said first spring while the stop is in normal position, the tension of said second spring made ineffective when the finger stop is moved to an off-normal position to permit the first spring to engage said wheel. l

3. Inan impulse sending device, springs, a unit comprising a shaft having a driving gear, a spring cup andz an insulated pin, a spring in said cup having one end fixed thereto, saidinsulated pin on said shaft normally in engagement with said first springs, means for applying power to said gear for moving said shaft to cause the same to disengage said insulated pin from said springs, and for storing-power in said spring.

lk-In an impulse sending device, a pair of rotatable shafts lying parallel to each other, a pluralityof springs, means controlled by the operation of one of said shafts for operating part of said springs, means controlled by the other shaft for controlling other of said springs, and a governor mounted in a" plane parallel to said springs for controlling the speed of said shafts.

5. In an impulse sending device, a rotatable cam, a unit comprising a shaft and a. spring cup, the circumference of said cup having' gear teeth formed thereon and the `bottom of said cup having teeth thereon, a

means associated with said wheel controlled` by said finger stop for preventing the operation of said cam or governor while said stop is in its off-normal position.

7. In an impulse sending device, the combination of a finger hole dial, a gear secured thereto, a shaft carrying an insulated finger and a gear, rotated by said first gear, a power spring on said shaft for moving the same in one direction having adjusting means, another shaft having a sleeve operated by said second gear thru the medium of a pinion, a ratchet on said sleeve for permitting it to rotate its shaft only when moving in one direction, an impulse cam and a worm wheel on said shaft, a governor having a knurled wheel mounted thereon, said worm wheel cooperating with said governor to move the same with the last shaft, a movable finger stop for the dial, a device controlled by said stop for engaging said knurled wheel when the stop is off normal to prevent movement of the governor, and a set of springs mounted adjacentsaid shafts, one pair being operated by said insulated finger and another pair operated by said cam. y

8. In an impulse sending device, a plurality of springs, a' cam for operating said springs, a finger hole dial, a train of gears having a power spring associated therewith, part of said gear train being operable to store power in said spring when said dial is operated in one direction, said gears all operated in the opposite direction when said dial is released and returned thru the medium of said spring, a ratchet mechanism associated with said train of gears and said impulse cam, said ratchet permitting the first mentioned movement of a part of said ltrain independent of said cam and for operating said cam during the second mentioned movement .of said train.

9. In an impulse sending device a mounting plate, a finger hole dial having a gear, a shaft, an insulated finger on said shaft, a

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spring cup having crown teeth, spur teeth and a pin associated therewith, a spring in said cup having one end fixed thereto, an adjustable holding member for the other end of said spring, a pinion, a sleeve and clutch surface having a shaft, an impulse cam, a second spring, a worm wheel, a knurled wheel, said pinion permanently in mesh with said spur teeth, said hnurled wheel being normally engaged by said pin through the medium of said first gears and spring, a spring dog, a worm, a second lniurled wheel, a governor', said dog normally tending to engage said wheel, said worm permanently in mesh with said worm wheel, a movable finger stop having a finger secured thereto and a spring associated therewith, said spring cooperating with said finger for normally neutralizing the eect of said spring dog, other springs part of which are operable by said insulated pin' and others being operable by said cam, said stop manually movable into an off normal position when the dial is being operated, to remove said linger from said spring dog, to permit the same to engage said knurled Wheel to prevent the operation of any and all mechanism while said stop is in an off normal position.

10. In an impulse sending device, a governor for regulating the speed of said device, a pair of shafts lying parallel to each other, a plurality of springs lying in a plane parallel to the axis of said governor, means controlled by the operation of one of said shafts for operating part of said springs and means controlled by the other of said shafts for operating other of said springs, one of said shafts operable in two directions, the other shaft operable in only one direction.

11. 1n a calling device, a dial rotatable forward and back, a shaft geared to said dial, a second shaft geared to said first shaft, a third shaft, a ratchet connection between said second and third shafts, impulse springs, and an impulse cani driven by said third shaft during the backward rotation of said dial.

12. In a calling` device, a dial rotatable forward and back, a shaft geared to said dial` a second shaft geared to said first shaft, a third shaft, a ratchet connection between said second and third shafts, impulse springs. an impulse cam driven by said third shaft during the backward rotation of said dial, a speed governor for regulating the speed of said cam, and gears for causing said third shaft to drive said governor.

13. In a calling device, a dial rotatable forward and baclr, a shaft supporting` said dial, a second shaft at right angles to said first shaft, gears for causing the dial to operate the second shaft, a third shaft parallel to said second shaft, gears connecting the second and third shafts, a fourth shaft, a ratchet for causing the fourth shaft to be driven by the third shaft in one direction only, impulse springs, and an impulse cam driven by said fourth shaft.

14. in a calling device, a dial rotatable forward and bach, a shaft supporting said dial, a second shaft at right angles to said first shaft, gears for causing the dial to operate the second shaft, a tubular third shaft parallel to said second shaft and geared to said second shaft, a fourth shaft concentric with said third shaft, a ratchet causing said fourth shaft to be driven by said third shaft in one direction only, impulse springs, and an impulse'cam diven by said fourth shaft.

15. ln a calling device, impulse springs, a cam for operating said springs, a shaft for rotating said cam in one direction only, a sleeve on said shaft, a ratchet connection between said sleeve and shaft, a counter shaft geared Jto said sleeve, and a reciprocating finger dial geared to said counter shaft.

16. ln a calling device, impulse springs, a cam for operating said springs, a shaft for rotating said cam in one direction only, a sleeve on said shaft, a ratchet connection between said sleeve and shaft, a counter shaft geared to said sleeve, a reciprocating finger dial geared to said counter shaft, shunt springs associated with said impulse springs, and means actuated by said counter shaft for controlling said shunt springs.

17. In a calling device, impulse springs, a cam for operating said springs, a shaft for rotating said cam in one direction only, a sleeve on said shaft, a ratchet connection between said sleeve and shaft, a counter shaft geared to said sleeve, a reciprocating finger dial geared to said counter shaft', a governor for regulating the movement of the dial in onedir-ection. and gearing for causing the said first shaft to drive said governor.

18. lfn a calling device, a dial, a shaft Arotatably supporting said dial, a counter shaft geared to the dial and supported perpendicular to said first shaft, a cam shaft parallel to said counter shaft and geared thereto, a governor' shaft geared to said cam shaft, means supporting said governor shaft perpendicular to all said other shafts, impulse springs, and a cam on said cam shaft` for actuating said springs.

19. In an impulse sending device, a movable finger stop, a spring for holding said stop in normal position, a. rotatable governor, means including a spring for preventing r0- tation of said governor, and a lever attached to said finger stop for holding said second springout of engagement with the governor while the finger stop is in normal position.

20. In an impulse transmitting device, a shaft having an impulse cam fixed on one end and a worm wheel on the other end, a spring on said shaft, one end of said spring resting against said cam and the other end bent at right angles and extending through a hole in said wheel, al ratchet Wheel concentric and flush with said Worm Wheel, means for rotating said ratchet Wheel in two directions, said ratchet wheel When operated in one direction forcing the end of said spring flush with said Worm Wheel Without operating the same, and when operated in the other direction engaging the end of said spring and rotating the Worin Wheel With it, and a speed governor operated by said Worm Wheel.

21. In an impulse transmitting device, a shaft having an impulse cam fixed on one end and a Worin Wheel on the other end, a spring on said shaft, one end of said spring resting against said cam and the other end bent at right angles and extending through a hole in said Wheel, a ratchet Wheel concentric and flush with said Worm Wheel, means for rotating said ratchet Wheel in tvvo directions, said ratchet Wheel when operated in one direction forcing the end of said spring flush with said Worm Wheel Without operating th-e same, and when operated in the other direction engaging the end of said spring and rotating the Worm Wheel and cam With it, impulse springs operated by said cam, and a speed governor operated by said Worm' wheel.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 6th day of January, A. D.,

JOHN G. BLESSING. 

